Whenever it is necessary or appropriate for the Branch to enter a team (s) in any discipline or activity, that team(s) will be selected in accordance with the following policy:

To be eligible for area members MUST have renewed your membership before 28th February and you AND the horse you intend to ride must have attended at least 3 working rallies since the start of the previous July, one of which must be in the current year.(This is Pony Club Policy)

All team selection will be done as fairly and openly as possible.

Once those members willing and eligible to be selected for the team in question have been identified, further selection will take into account a number of factors including:

Commitment – in all respects – to the Branch, to training and rallies, to the competition and to their fellow members;

Performance – both in previous competitions, at rallies and in training.

Members are encouraged to attend as many rallies as possible. Banwell provides an excellent amount of training at all levels with excellent instructors.

Senior Camp will also be a great kick start to the season if you can make it. There MAY be some specific area training closer to the competition dates please see the calendar for more information. Practising over up to height courses and completing dressage tests will get you and your horse used to the environment.

The order in which these two factors are placed is significant. Where members are broadly equal in turns of commitment, the member who has demonstrated their performance is more likely to be selected. Banwell wants to win and encourage winners but not at the expense of all else. At the same time, we want to acknowledge and reward loyalty but sometimes it is right that other factors take precedence. This may sometimes mean that a member is disappointed. It is almost inevitable – but that adds to the learning curve upon which all children will travel and, hopefully, will act as a spur to future commitment and performance.

Team selection will, as far as possible be carried out by the person best qualified for the task. They will try to take into account all factors but most particularly will assess commitment and performance. The selection will be the responsibility of the Branch District Commissioner who may nominate a third party to carry out the role, with reference where needed from the relevant instructor for each discipline.

To be considered for selection, please ensure you have completed the following:-

Area Eventing

3 x Working Rallies (compulsory as per PC Rules – since previous 1st July onwards) this includes all Rallies including SJ Technique/Grids/ Flatwork Rallies PLUS

1 x XC on a XC Course (Portables not included) – Day Rally or Clinic included (1st October onwards)

2 x Rallies in each discipline, this includes day rallies and one session in each discipline – must be grass based (DC Discretion) these do not include SJ/Technique it must be full course jumping session (1st October onwards)

Members to pay half the entry fees for each discipline entered.

Area SJ or Dressage

3 x Working Rallies compulsory as per PC Rules – (1st July onwards)

2 x Rallies in each discipline, this includes day rallies and one session in each discipline must be grass based (DC Discretion) these do not include SJ/Technique it must be full course jumping (1st October onwards)

Members to pay half the entry fees for each discipline entered.